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Applied AI / Week 03 / Try It
6/6
Week 03 · What Never to Paste

Try It

Try it: never-paste list
// Personal data, children's data and student records
⏱ about 15 min

Try It: Your Never-Paste List

On Saturday, Maya, Ben and Rosa each finish their never-paste list on a single card.

Then they practice on a sample message. They strip it until a stranger could not tell who it is about.

Ben times himself. The first try takes four minutes. The second takes one.

Privacy check before any Try It
Today you need only paper or a notes app. You do not need any AI tool.
Write categories on your list, not real details. Write "customer phone numbers", not the numbers themselves.
If you would not post it on a public notice board, do not paste it.

Part 1: your list

CategoryExamplesWhere it comes from
Account detailsPasswords, account or card numbers, government ID numbersCourse rule; SBA advice on sensitive data
Children's detailsFull name, address, photo, video, voice, locationCOPPA list of a child's personal information
Student detailsNames, family names, student numbers, dates of birth, recordsFERPA definitions
Health detailsConditions, treatments, health notesNIST data privacy risk
Business secretsCustomer lists, staff records, plans, anything a contract keeps privateSBA advice on proprietary information
Not legal advice
This is a plain summary, not legal advice. For your own case, check with your school, district or a lawyer.
  1. Copy the five categories onto a card.
  2. Under each, add one example from your own home, class or business, written as a category.
  3. Add any category the table misses that matters to you.
  4. Write the notice board test at the bottom of the card.
  5. Put the card where you will see it before you paste anything.

Part 2: strip a sample

This message was made up for this lesson. Every name and number in it is invented.

Example output (written for this lesson)
Request: Help me write a reminder to Liam Carter's dad, Tom Carter, at 22 Oak Road.
Liam is 9, in Room 4 at Hillside School, and his phone is 555 0142.
Remind him the field trip form is due Friday.
DetailDoes the task need it?
Liam Carter's name?
Tom Carter's address?
Liam's age and school?
The phone number?
The field trip form is due Friday?
WHY THIS EXERCISEMost private details in a request do nothing for the task.
Write the stripped request in one sentence.
WHY THIS EXERCISEA stripped request still gets you the help, and keeps everyone private.

Next week: how to ask an AI tool well, and how to check every answer.

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